8 aid agencies have just published a report complaining about the militarisation of aid.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8482247.stm
Now, the US military annual aid budget in Afghanistan is quoted at $1 bn, more than the entire Afghan government budget for health, education and agriculture combined.
My question, to those who have seen it in the field is- Does militarised aid work? There are enough horror stories about DFID on this site to suggest that central Government led aid programmes can have difficulty, but the aid agencies have an agenda here. After all, if the military moves in on their turf, then their income is likely to get cut.
However, although the military is very good about getting things done, sometimes they aren't the right things, in the right places.
Current operations in Haiti have already taken on a very 'military' tone, simply because only the military can handle logistics on that scale- but at what point should the military step away?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8482247.stm
Now, the US military annual aid budget in Afghanistan is quoted at $1 bn, more than the entire Afghan government budget for health, education and agriculture combined.
My question, to those who have seen it in the field is- Does militarised aid work? There are enough horror stories about DFID on this site to suggest that central Government led aid programmes can have difficulty, but the aid agencies have an agenda here. After all, if the military moves in on their turf, then their income is likely to get cut.
However, although the military is very good about getting things done, sometimes they aren't the right things, in the right places.
Current operations in Haiti have already taken on a very 'military' tone, simply because only the military can handle logistics on that scale- but at what point should the military step away?